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Arnold Palmer blood pressure spike caused hospitalization

Arnold Palmer missed the trophy presentation at his own tournament on Sunday after he was taken to a nearby hospital to monitor his blood pressure.

Arnold Palmer, 82 had been getting his blood pressure checked throughout the final day of his golf tournament at Bay Hill and according to the report from ESPN, no more than 15 minutes prior to the end of the event, he was advised to get to the hospital by a doctpr.

Palmer is taking some new prescription medication for another undisclosed condition and it had some serious effects on his blood pressure numbers.

"It wasn't anything to do with any ailments or any discomfort he felt," said Alaistair Johnston, vice chairman at IMG and Palmer's longtime business manager. "The blood pressure was at a level where the doctor involved suggested that he go immediately to get more intensive evaluation at the hospital."

Reports this morning are that Arnold Palmer was kept overnight for observation.

He missed congratulating the Bay Hill winner Tiger Woods, who accepted his seventh trophy at the event and his first win in almost 30 months. Woods held a one-shot lead over Graeme McDowell as Sunday's final round began.

Woods and McDowell went toe-to-toe and at one point it looked like McDowell would pull even but Tiger had answers when he needed them. He kept his ball out of the water all day and made some classic Tiger up-and-downs for par when he drove into trouble off the fairway.

The conditions were tough with strong winds blowing most of the afternoon and the pin placements, particularly on the holes with water near the greens were as difficult as one would expect at a tournament like Bay Hill.

Tiger Woods was one of fewer than 15 golfers on the day that shot below par, out of 73 in the field. Final leaderboard, here.

He closed the day shooting a two under-par 70 as McDowell shot a two-over par 74 and took second place. Ian Poulter finished in sole possession of third and five men, including Bubba Watson tied for fourth.

Arnold Palmer has been at the tournament presentation for his event every year of its existence. This was the 34th year for Palmer's baby and Graeme McDowell noticed something was wrong before he got to the green on the 18th hole.

Arnie has his signature pink golf shirt that he wears under a blazer, usually navy blue. He stands behind the 18th green waiting for the match's conclusion and then congratulates the winner and presents the trophy.

McDowell told media after the match: "I was surprised to see him not around, and when we just heard the news on the side that he had been taken to the hospital, of course we were very upset and certainly praying that everything is going to be OK," McDowell said. "That really puts a little bit of a damper on the spirits on 18th green when Tiger is going to pick up his trophy."